Will INEC Remove Atiku From 2027 Presidential Candidates’ Portal After Court Ruling? 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing a fresh decision over the 2027 presidential race following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The commission has indicated that it will review the implications of the judgment before deciding whether to remove Atiku’s name from its candidates’ portal, raising fresh uncertainty over the opposition party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.

The development followed Thursday’s judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken under the disputed caretaker committee.

Among the decisions affected was the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 election.

The court also nullified the emergence of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Secretary, as well as other appointments and nominations made under the disputed leadership.

However, INEC has maintained that it will not rush into taking action until it obtains and examines the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.

Speaking on the commission’s next line of action, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said INEC would first study the court’s decision before determining what steps to take.

According to him, the commission would deliberate on the matter at its next meeting, expected to hold next week.

Haruna also indicated that INEC would comply with any further court order if the David Mark-led faction secures a stay of execution following an appeal.

The commission’s position comes amid reports circulating on social media suggesting that Atiku and his running mate, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, had already been removed from the electoral portal.

However, checks on the portal showed that both politicians remained listed under the ADC as of Friday, November 6, contrary to claims that their names had been deleted.

Meanwhile, the ADC has rejected the judgment and moved to challenge it in court.

The party has reportedly filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution, while formally notifying INEC of the legal proceedings. It has urged the electoral commission to refrain from taking consequential action until the appeal and application are determined.

The latest development has also triggered reactions within the party, with a group of ADC state chairmen demanding that INEC remove Mark and members of his dissolved executive from its portal and recognise the leadership associated with Nafiu Bala Gombe.

The group argued that the court’s decision had invalidated the processes that produced Atiku and other ADC candidates for the forthcoming elections.

The dispute now places INEC at the centre of another major political and legal battle as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.

The commission must determine the administrative consequences of the judgment while considering the pending appeal and any subsequent orders from higher courts.